From the moment 'Publish' is pressed on this post, this information will likely be outdated. Social Media sites are constantly changing and evolving, we would like to think for the better, but... well... perhaps not always. This post explains a little about Social Media sites that a re popular with children; what the 'rules' are; and some info about the site.
As with any site where personal information is required for registration (sometimes needed, sometimes not, but it's asked for anyway), users need to consider whether they are comfortable with sharing this information which, despite a website's best intentions, can be opened to certain individuals who are hellbent on accessing it. As well as this, kids sharing this personal information is something, that perhaps is not always unavoidable, but should be explained and outlined in a conversation of risk vs reward. Risk of someone else knowing identifiable information vs the reward of meeting up with mates online.
FACEBOOK
Age restriction: 13 years and older
Users: 1.11 billion (http://investor.fb.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=761090)
Most popular social media site on the planet (particularly for teenagers), where users can create networks of their own by 'friending' other users, joining groups, liking pages, poking other users and posting updates via text, photos and videos.
TWITTER
Age restriction: no age restriction
Users: 200 million (https://blog.twitter.com/2013/celebrating-twitter7)
A micro-blogging platform where users follow and are followed by other users, updating their network with a 'tweet' of 140 characters or less. Photos and videos can also be uploaded and shared. Hashtags (the subject or relevant keywords related to the tweet) can be used to combine tweets and allow for searching of related topics. Retweets (tweeting another user's tweet) give users the opportunity spread messages across their own network, thereby moving between a large variety of followers and groups of followers.
INSTAGRAM
Age restriction: 13 years and older
Users: 100 million (http://www.geekshut.com/instagram-hits-100m-monthly-active-users/8930)
Owned by FaceBook, Instagram is a photo sharing platform where users upload photos and, similarly to Twitter, is fed to the user's followers. Filters and effects can be added, along with text, comments, likes as well as hashtags. Interestingly, Instagram (and many other social media sites) do not own photos uploaded, but the user - by agreeing to the terms and conditions - give Instagram non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty free, transferable, sub-licensable, work-wide license to use the content users post. Hmmmm...
SNAPCHAT
Age restriction: 13 years and older (plus, must be 18 years or older OR must have parental consent?!)
Users: 5 million daily active users (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/jun/25/snapchat-app-self-destructing-messaging)
More of an app than a social network, but certainly used in similar ways to the three above.
ASK.FM
Age restriction: 13 years and older
Users: 70 million
A creative idea that when used innocently, can be a bit of fun, but can also be a tool for bullying to occur with limited tools to stop. Users 'ask' and 'answer' questions, either anonymously or as their user profile. The site has been attributed to suicides in the UK, and the site has been accused of not doing enough to protect it's users and delete or discourage comments/answers to questions that controvene is terms of use.
There is a real danger here for kids to use this to harass, bully and perhaps even get in trouble with the law. There are plenty of strategies, despite it seemingly being a task fast becoming out of parents hands. Some are included below:
- Blocking is not as good as monitoring. Blocking is never fully up to date, and almost any blocks can be transcended through anonymizers or various proxy sites. Nothing like standing over the shoulder to see what's happening! Of course not possible for a class of students, or at home...
- Clear consequences. Nothing helps kids know expectations than consequences when they cross the line. Does this mean they won't do it again? No. But in the role of communicate appropriate social behaviours, this clearly communicates where the line is.
- Communication. Discuss sites and apps with children, to do this productively for adults, chances are it means the need to read up, download and test/use the apps so an informed decision/discussion can be made/had. Conveniently has the bonus of looking 'uncool' and scaring kids of using the app if mum/dad/teacher is using it!
- Use Privacy Settings/Parental Controls where possible. Not always possible on an app (although sites like SnapChat offer alternatives for users under 13yo) but certainly on the device, which can block apps with a restriction.
- Use a parent's email address or shared password. This is a good compromise for children starting out so that parents can check the FaceBook page, or receive directly friend/follower request/advice.
- It is OK to say no to under 13 year olds. In fact, parents should say no. It's the rules. Have a plan for when the child is 13, though, as this can be an 'in' for parents to guide them through their first foray into social media.
- BEST TIP: Keep devices in public areas of the house. NEVER IN THE BEDROOM. More risks will be taken out of the public areas of the house, which is not good when children are interacting with the world.
